Post driver

ABSTRACT

A truck-mounted post driver comprises a conventional driver head disposed laterally of the truck bed and mounted for controlled tilting movement in two vertical planes parallel to and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck so that the head may be plumbed with respect to a vertical post. The head is carried by an adjustable frame assembly by means of which it can be positioned horizontally and vertically and retracted to a position on the truck body.

United States Patent Cartner 1 Nov. 28, 1972 1541 POST DRIVER 3,605,912 9/1971 Fisher ..173/43 X [72] inventor: Jack Carma 1612 Blaine 3,026,949 3/1962 Eldridge et a1. ..173/23 9 4 I I Avenue Cambndge 01110 3725 Pnmary Examner Emest R. Purser [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1971 Attomey-Cushman, Darby & Cushman 21 Appl. No.2 112,544 [57] ABSTRACT A truck-mounted post driver comprises a conventional C(il ..17323ic1 driver head disposed laterally of the truck bed and 58] Fieid s 28 43 mounted for controlled tilting movement in two vertical planes parallel to and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck so that the head may be plumbed [56] References Cited with respect to a vertical post. The head is carried by UNI ED T p E an adjustable frame assembly by means of which it can T S ATES A NTS 2 655 006 10/1953 H t a] "3/ 3 x be positioned horizontally and vertically and retracted OCH t iti on the truck bod 3,400,771 9/1968 Dom ..173/43 0 a P08 9 a y 3,602,316 8/ 1971 McNicholas. 173/43 X 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures POST DRIVER This invention relates to mobile post-driving or setting apparatus and in particular to a mounting assembly for adjusting the angular position of a post driver relative to its carrying vehicle.

A post-driving device, for purposes of this invention, is any of a variety of devices which include a vertical track assembly adapted to straddle a fence post or sign post and a vertically driven hammer assembly or driving head guided by the track assembly so as to strike the upper end of the post.

It is known to mount a post-driving device on, for example, a truck bed, by means of various adjustable frame assemblies which can be operated to position the driving device to one side of the truck bed and above the upper end of a fence post or signpost. When the ground is not level, the wheeled vehicle will not be level, with the result that the path of movement of the driving head during operation will not be aligned with a vertical post, unless the angular position of the driving device relative to the vehicle is adjusted to compensate for the inclination of the ground.

The present invention provides a mounting arrangement for a vehicle-mounted post driving device which permits the driving device to be tilted toward and away from the vehicle and tilted in a plane parallel to the vehicle so as to permit alignment of the driving head with the axis of the post. In the preferred embodiment the mounting arrangement also effects adjustment of the driving device in linear horizontal and vertical paths relative to the carrying vehicle and is further adapted to swing the device to a non-operating position above the truck bed.

The invention will be further understood from the following more detailed description of an illustrative embodiment taken with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a truckmounted post driving device embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

I FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown schematically the rear end of a truck bed 10 supported by ground-engaging rear wheels 12 and carrying a frame assembly which in turn carries at its outer end a post-driving device 14. The driving device 14 may be of conventional construction and as shown may be of the type having a vertically elongated track assembly 16 adapted to guide an internal driving head or hammer 18 which is lifted and then tripped so as to fall by gravity into engagement with the upper end of a post 20. The lifting mechanism may include a lever 22 pivoted at its lower end for movement in a vertical plane and a hydraulic cylinder 24 for moving the lever 22.

The track assembly 16 is supported at its lower end for swinging movement toward and away from the truck, that is, in a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck, and also for swinging movement in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck. To this end there is provided a mounting bracket 26 having a lower end in the form of a sleeve 28 which is mounted for rotation on a fixed horizontal shaft 30 extending laterally of the truck. The lower end of the track assembly 16 is pivoted to the mounting bracket 26 by means of a pin 32 which extends parallel to the truck. The inner end of the fixed shaft 30 is secured to a fixed frame member 33 which may be in the form of a vertically extending tube.

The pivotal position of the track assembly 16 about the pin 32 and about the axis of the fixed shaft 30 is determined by two linear adjustment means, such as hydraulic cylinders 34 and 36. As best shown in FIG. 4,

The inner ends of the cylinders 34 and 36 are connected to the fixed frame member 33 for pivotal movement about two axes which are normal to' each other. This may be accomplished by means of a link 39 fixed to each cylinder and pivoted at its lower end within the flattened upper end of a tubular member 40 which in turn is rotatable within the upper end of the tubular frame member 33.

Simultaneous extension or retraction of both cylinders 34 and 36 swings the track assembly 16 outwardly or inwardly, respectively, about the pin 32. Due to the angular disposition of the cylinders with respect to each other, extension of one cylinder and simultaneous retraction of the other cylinder will swing the track assembly 16 about the axis of the fixed shaft 30, as will be apparent from inspection of FIGS. 1 and 4. This movement is accompanied by rotational movement of the element 40 within the bore of the tubular member 33 and pivotal movement of the link 39 about the pin 41.

The fixed frame 33 which supports the post-driving device 14 and the hydraulic cylinders 34 and 36 is secured to the outer face of an elongated vertical support 42 which, in turn, is carried on an open box-like frame assembly 44, the latter including members 46,

' 48, 50 and 52. The support 42 is bolted to the member structure 62 and is pivotally connected to the latter at 64 for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck. A hydraulic cylinder 66 is pivotally connected between the floor structure 62 and the assembly 44 for swinging the latter between the operative position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a storage position about 75 counter-clockwise therefrom, in which position the assembly 44 will be directly above the truck bed 10.

The floor structure 62 is supported on rollers 68 within a horizontal track assembly 70 which is fixed to the bed 10 of the truck. A horizontal hydraulic cylinder 72 is connected between the floor structure 62 and the track assembly 70 for moving the floor structure 62 in a horizontal direction between the extended position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a retracted position in which the vertical support 42 is immediately adjacent the side of the truck bed 10.

in the operative position of the equipment it may be desirable to stabilize the components by means of a temporary ground-engaging member, such as a vertical strut depending from the track assembly 70 or from the truck bed 10. The illustrated strut 74 includes a hydraulic cylinder 76 pin-connected at 78 to the track assembly 70 and carrying a grouhd-engaging foot 80 which is pin-connected at 82. The strut 74 is particularly useful on uneven ground where the weight of the post-driver components together with the inclination of the truck bed may result in excessive misalignment of the driving device 14 with the post 20.

It will be evident that ultimate operative position of the post driving device 14 is adjustable horizontally by the cylinder 72 and is adjustable vertically by the cylinder 60 and/or by mechanically relocating the support 42 on the sliding member 52. More importantly the angular position of the driving device 14 is adjustable by the cylinders 34 and 36 to compensate for unlevel ground which may cause the truck bed 10 to be tilted from a horizontal position. Tilting of the bed 10 about the longitudinal axis of the truck will cause misalignment in a vertical transverse plane between the driving device 14 and a vertical post. Alignment may be restored by extending or retracting both cylinders 34 and 36 simultaneously so as to adjust the position of the driving device 14 about the axis of the pin 32. Misalignmentcaused by tilting of the truck about a transverse axis may be corrected by operating the cylinders 34 and 36 in opposite directions to adjust the position of the driving device 14 about the axis of the fixed shaft 30.

When the equipment is to be transported to another site, the horizontal cylinder 72 is first retracted in order to move the floor structure 46 onto the truck bed 10. This relieves much of the torque on the truck bed so that whenthe strut cylinder 76 is retracted the truck bed does nottip to any appreciable extent. The use of the strut thereby permits the use of a smaller truck than would otherwise be required. Then the cylinder 66 is extended to swing the frame assembly 44 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby moving the latter together with the driving device 14 from a position lateral of the truck bed 10 to a position directly above the truck bed 10.

What is claimed is:

l. Post-driving apparatus adapted to be mounted on a wheeled vehicle and suspended from the vehicle comprising: a vertically elongated driving device for guiding and driving a driving head into engagement with the upper end of a post in order to drive the post into the ground; a vertically elongated rigid support member disposed generally parallel to said driving device; means connecting said driving device to said support member in any of several predetermined relative positions along the length of said support member; first drive means for raising and lowering said support member; and second drive means for moving said support member and said firstdrive means linearly in a horizontal plane, said second drive means in luding generally horizontal track means adapted to be lxed to a vehicle and a floor structure riding on said track means and extensible horizontally beyond said track means, and said first drive means and said support member being pivotally mounted on said floor structure for swinging movement in a vertical plane between a position horizontally beyond said floor structure and a position directly above said floor structure.

2. In a post-driving apparatus of the type including a driving device for guiding and driving a driving head into engagement with the upper end of a post inorder to drive the post into the ground and support means for suspending the driving device from a wheeled vehicle and for aligning the driving device with respect to the post, the improvement in the support and aligning means comprising swivel means mounting the driving device for swinging movement in first and second generally vertical planes normal to each other and two linearly extensible and retractable adjustment devices cooperating with the driving device for swinging the driving device in one of said planes about a first axis when both adjustment devices are extended or retracted simultaneously and for swinging the driving device in the other plane about a second axis when one adjustment device is extended and the other is retracted.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said adjustment devices are arranged with their longitudinal axes generally parallel to one of the axes of rotation of the driving device and wherein said adjustment devices engage the driving device on opposite sides of the other axis of rotation of the driving device. I

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said adjustment devices are arranged with their longitudinal axes generally horizontal and generally parallel to one of the axes of rotation of the driving device and wherein said adjustment devices engage the driving device on' opposite sides of the other axis of rotation of the driving device.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said adjustment devices are hydraulic rams. 

1. Post-driving apparatus adapted to be mounted on a wheeled vehicle and suspended from the vehicle comprising: a vertically elongated driving device for guiding and driving a driving head into engagement with the upper end of a post in order to drive the post into the ground; a vertically elongated rigid support member disposed generally parallel to said driving device; means connecting said driving device to said support member in any of several predetermined relative positions along the length of said support member; first drive means for raising and lowering said support member; and second drive means for moving said support member and said first drive means linearly in a horizontal plane, said second drive means including generally horizontal track means adapted to be fixed to a vehicle and a floor structure riding on said track means and extensible horizontally beyond said track means, and said first drive means and said support member being pivotally mounted on said floor structure for swinging movement in a vertical plane between a position horizontally beyond said floor structure and a position directly above said floor structure.
 2. In a post-driving apparatus of the type including a driving device for guiding and driving a driving head into engagement with the upper end of a post in order to drive the post into the ground and support means for suspending the driving device from a wheeled vehicle and for aligning the driving device with respect to the post, the improvement in the support and aligning means comprising swivel means mounting the driving device for swinging movement in first and second generally vertical planes normal to each other and two linearly extensible and retractable adjustment devices cooperating with the driving devicE for swinging the driving device in one of said planes about a first axis when both adjustment devices are extended or retracted simultaneously and for swinging the driving device in the other plane about a second axis when one adjustment device is extended and the other is retracted.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said adjustment devices are arranged with their longitudinal axes generally parallel to one of the axes of rotation of the driving device and wherein said adjustment devices engage the driving device on opposite sides of the other axis of rotation of the driving device.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said adjustment devices are arranged with their longitudinal axes generally horizontal and generally parallel to one of the axes of rotation of the driving device and wherein said adjustment devices engage the driving device on opposite sides of the other axis of rotation of the driving device.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said adjustment devices are hydraulic rams. 